The father of little Alfie Evans met with Pope Francis in the Vatican Wednesday and pleaded with him to help save his son, who has been sentenced to be euthanized against his parents’ wishes.

In his most powerful statement to date, Pope Francis has urged authorities to spare the lives of two disabled persons due to be euthanized, Vincent Lambert in France and Alfie Evans in the UK.

Pope Francis has called for respect for the lives of two disabled persons due to be euthanized, urging prayers for Vincent Lambert in France and Alfie Evans in England.

The Sebastopol Hospital in Reims, France, has ordered the removal of food and water from their patient Vincent Lambert, who suffered severe trauma to the skull in an automobile accident in 2008 that left him a quadriplegic.